Five persons have died after Russia launched a nationwide overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine, targeting power plants and energy infrastructure across the country.
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who confirmed the development on Sunday in a post on Telegram, said around 120 missiles and 90 drones “targeted areas” in “all regions of Ukraine.” with Ukrainian air defenses downing more than 140 targets.
“We are grateful to all our air defence,” the president said, noting that American-made F-16 fighter jets were involved in the defense.
According to Ukraine’s military, at least two Kinzhal hypersonic missiles among Moscow’s most advanced weapons, were among the projectiles used in the attack, as authorities confirmed five casualties.
The combined drone and missile attack was the most powerful in three months, and forced people into basements, subway stations and other underground shelters, according to the head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration Serhii Popko.
“The enemy’s target was our energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. Unfortunately, there is damage to objects from hits and falling debris. In Mykolaiv, as a result of a drone attack, two people were killed and six others were injured, including two children.”
Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko confirmed in a post to social media that the strikes saying Russian strikes targeted Ukraine’s power generation capacity, prompting repeated emergency power shutdowns and nationwide rolling blackouts.
Multiple explosions were heard across major cities in Ukraine, including the capital, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Odesa, as well as the country’s west and central regions, according to local reports.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the attack was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “true response” to recent conversations with world leaders.
“Russia launched one of the largest air attacks: drones and missiles against peaceful cities, sleeping civilians, critical infrastructure,” Sybiha said. “This is war criminal Putin’s true response to all those who called and visited him recently. We need peace through strength, not appeasement,” he said.